Fiber-cleaning machine.



P. R. NELSON.

FIBER CLEANING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. I915. 1,15,575. Patented 0015.19, 1915.

6 $HEETSSHEET I.

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w y. a K V g Q 0 "J n 31 to Q 6 Q 9 g D Q a K I o & llIlVE/I/TOR \Q o PefeP/Q/I/ebo/I K) By '3 ATTORNEYS P. R. NELSON.

FIBER CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11111.13. 1915.

Patented 001.19, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRM'H coqwAsmNnfoN. h. c,

P. R. NELSON.

FIBER CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.13.1915.

'1,15?,5?5, Patented 00b. 19, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

6 Zzg. fi. f

WITNESSES INVE/I/TOR AL 0 w 6 Pefer/Z/Ve/son By W ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 120-, WASHINGTON; D. C.

P. R. NELSON.

FIBER CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-13.1915.

1,15%575, Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

P. R. NELSON.

FIBER CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. 1915.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

6 SHEETS-$HEET 5.

l/V VE IV TOR Pefer 1? 4 6/50 A TTOR/VEYS WITNESSES A140, aim,

toLummA FLANOORAPH $0., WASHINGTON, u c,

P. R. NELSON.

FIBER CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. l9|5. 1,15 5, Patented 0013019, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5- By a 14 V ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANUGRMIH CO-AVASHINGTON. D. c.

PETER R. NELSON, 0F MAIVIIBAJAO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

FIBER-CLEANING MACHINE.

Application filed January 13, 1915.

i all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER R. NELSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Mambajao, Misainis, Philippine Islands, have invented a new and Improved F iber-Gleaning Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to machines for separating or cleaning fibers and other extraneous matter from the pulp of plants and trees, such as the tropical abaca (Mum temtz'lis) which yields Manila hemp, orv the maguey plant.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved fiber cleaning machine arranged to readily remove the extraneous matter from both'sides of the fibers without danger of injuring the fibers.

In order to accomplish the desired result, use is made of revoluble drums arranged one alongside the other, scrapers or knives extending transversely across the peripheral faces of the drums to remove the extraneous matter from both sides of the fibers passing between the drum faces and the scrapers, and a driven endless carrier having one or more draw heads, in each of which is adapted to be fastened the butt end of the fibers, the draw head drawing the fibers around approximately one-half of one drum with one side of the fibers exposed to the corresponding scraper, and then drawing the fibers around one-half of the other drum with the other fibers exposed to the corresponding scraper to cause the said scrapers to clean both sides of the fibers during successive scraping operations. Use is further made of means for locking the draw head temporarily in position in a peripheral recess of a drum and for releasing the draw head. from one drum to allow it to pass to the recess of the other drum to be temporarily locked thereto for drawing the fibers past the scrapers operating in conjunction with this drum and to finally release the draw head from this drum to return it to starting position.

A practicalembodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the fiber cleaning machine on the line 1-:1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (lot. 19, 1915.

Serial No. 1,944.

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the same; Fig. l is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the feed device in position for delivering fibers to a draw head endless carrier; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the carriage and the means for reciprocating the same; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same; Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the jaws of the feed device; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one of the side plates of the feed carriage; Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the first drum and the draw head in position therein, the section being on the line 99 of Fig. 10; Fi 10 is a like section of the same on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the scraper or knife in position on the second drum, the section being on the line 11-11 of Fig. 2; Fig. 12 is a plan view of thesame; Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional. side elevation of one of the ,draw'heads; Fig. 14 is a plan view of one side of the same; and Fig. 15 is a cross sec tion of the same on the line 15-15 of Fig. 13. V V

In the material to be treated by the machine presently to be described in detail, the fibers are embedded in the pulp and in order to free the fibers from this pulp the latter is scraped off, first from one side of the fibers and then from the other side thereof. The machine is mounted on a suitably constructed frame A, and one end of the material is passed, by an operator, between a pair of jaws B, B mounted on a reciprocating feed carriage C for delivering the for wardly pro ecting end of the material to a pair of jaws D, D of a draw head D forming part of an endless carrier E for drawing the material around the lower half of one drum F and then around the upper half of a second drum F to expose one side of the material to the action of a transverse scraper or knife G, extending across the lower portion of the drum F, and to then expose the other side of the material to the action of a transverse scraper or knife G extending across the upper portion of the second drum F so that the extraneous matterv on bothsides or faces of the fibers is re moved.

The endless carrier E is preferably in the revolution of the drum F the recess F shaft F of the drum F, the said shafts F F 3 being journaled in suitable bearings arranged on the main frame A. The diameters of the sprocket wheels E, E correspond approximately to the diameters of the drums F and F, and the latter are provided at their peripheral faces with recesses F F to receive draw heads D to cause the material to'be treated to be drawn firmly onto the peripheral faces of thedrums F and F i and to prevent the draw heads from coming in contact with the scrapers or knives G, G.

The sprocket chains after leaving the sprocket wheels E pass around sprocket wheels E and then up and over overhead guide pulleys Efl'E journaled on the top of the main frame A, the upper runsof the sprocket chains finally passing around sprocket wheels E journaled on the main frame A at the frontor left-hand end of the machine. The bottom runs of the sprocket chains after leaving the sprocket "wheels E pass over guide pulleys E adj cent the entrance side of the drum F to guide the sprocket chains onto the sprocket wheels E. The shaft; E carrying the sprocket wheels E 'is preferably provided with a guide pulley E for: guiding the draw heads after the latter leave the exit side and F may be driven instead of the shaftlE to accomplish the same result.

As shown in the drawings, use is made of three drawheads D spaced equal distances apart' on the chains of the carrier E, and-the length of the latter is so proportioned relative to the drums F and F that at each thereof'registers with a draw head, and at the same time the draw head in advance V leavesfthe recess F on the delivery side of the drum F, as plainly shown in'Fig. 1.

When the'd'rums F and 'F' have made a half revolution, the recesses F 4 and F 5 are in register with each other to allow a draw head in the recess F to pass from the latter into the recess F The feed device; consisting of the jaws 'B, B and the carriage Cis arranged in detail asfollows, special reference being had 'to Figs, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The jaws B, B: extend transversely and are located one above the other, and the ends of the jaws are secured to side arms 13 B mounted to swing loosely onthe forwardaxle C of the carriage C, and the said side arms B B are provided with extension arms 13*, B spaced apart by springs B tohold the jaws B, B normally in a. closed position.

The extension arms B B are JI'OVldGd r V l 7 with angular slots B into which project pins J projecting transversely from arms J secured to a shaft J 2 journaled in suitable hearings in the framework C of the car riage C. The pins J are located at opposite sides of the axis of the shaft J 2 so that when a swinging motion is given to the lower ends of the arms J from the left to the right then the jaws B and B are closed (see Fig. 5), and when the lower ends of the arms J are swung from the right to the left then the jaws B, B are opened (see Figs. 1 and 4). In order to accomplish this result use is made of pins J J 4 attached to the frame A, and of which the pins J are located near the lefthand end of the frame A, while the pins J 4 are located vertically below the axes of the sprocket wheels E.

\Vhen the carriage C is caused to travel from the right to the left in an outward direction then the jaws B, B are opened to permit the operator in charge to pass the forward end of the material to be treated between the said open jaws B, B, and when the carriage C nears the end of its outward stroke then the arms J come in contact with the pins J 3 to close the jaws B, B onto the material so as to clamp the same in place with the forward terminal of the material projecting a distance beyond the jaws B, B, as plainly indicated in Fig. 5. When the carriage C next moves inwardly it carries the material. along and when the carriage C nears the end of its inward stroke then the arms J come in contact with the pins J 4 to open the jaws B, B (see Fig. 4) and at this time the forward projecting end of the material has been passed between the jaws D and D of the draw head D then in receiving position with its jaws open.

The carriage C is provided at its axles C, C with grooved pulleys C mounted to travel on a suitable track A forming part of the main frame A. The ends of the forward axle C" project beyond the frame C of the carriage and engage slots K formed in the upper ends of levers K fulerumed at K on the main frame A. The lower ends of the levers K are connected with eccentric rods K of eccentrics K" held on the shaft F of the drum F so that when the latter is rotated as previously explained then the eccentrics K rods K and levers K impart a reciprocating motion to the carriage C so as to move the samefrom an outer position into a delivery position at the time a draw head D is in receiving position in front of the pair of jaws B, B, as plainly indicated in Fig. 4-.

Each drawhead D is constructed in detail as follows, special reference being had to Figs. 2, 4-, 13, 1d and 15: The jaws D, D of each draw head D extend transversely and are arranged one above the other, and the ends of the said jaws D, D are mounted to slide up and down in gnideways D attached to the chains of the carrier The upper jaw D is connected near each end by an arm L with a spring L and the lower aw D is connected by an arm L with a spring L the said springs L, L being connected with each other at their ends by shackles L to constitute a double elliptical spring, as plainly indicated in Figs. 1 and 13. Normally the springs L and L hold the jaws D and D in closed position with the material to be treated clamped between the said jaws, and when the springs L, L are pressed toward each other then the jaws D, D move apart into open position to release the material or to be in position for receiving another piece of material from the feed device C, as previously explained. In order to open the jaws D and D at the time the feed device C moves into delivery position (see Fig. 4) use is made of top and bottom rollers N, N journaled on the frame A and extending into the path of the springs L and L so that when a draw head D reaches the said rollers N and N then the springs L and L are pressed toward each other to open the jaws D and D for receiving the end of the material delivered by the feed device O, as plainly indicated in Fig. 4c. On the further forward movement of the carrier D and its draw head D, the springs L L pass out from between the rollers N and N so that the resiliency of the springs L, L causes the jaws D, D toclose and thereby firmly clamp the material between the said jaws. The material is now drawn along by this draw head which next passes into the recess F of the drum F and then into the recess F of the drum F to cause the material to pass around the lower portion of the drum F and over the upper portion of the drum F to allow the scrapers G and G to scrape off the extraneous matter as previously explained. hen a draw head D is on the return movement on the upper run of the carrier 1*), the springs L, L move between another set of rollers N .L 3 journaled in the top of the main frame A in the rear of the sprocket wheels E so that the springs L, L are moved toward each other to open the jaws D, D and thus release the end of the material to permit of removing the same from the machine. It is understood that after the draw head D leaves the rollers N'-, N the springs L, L return the jaws D, D to closed position, and when the draw head D reaches the rollers N, N then the jaws D, D are again opened for receiving the material to be next cleaned as previously explained.

When a draw head D nears therecess F in the first drum F then the lower jaw D engages lugs O on the upper ends of arms 0 secured to a shaft 0 extending transversely and journaled in suitable hearings on a plate A attached to or forming part of the main frame A, the shaft 0 having its axis located directly below the axes of the guide wheels E as plainly indicated in Figs. 1 and 9. The arms 0 receive a swinging motion by the forwardly moving aw D and the under side of the jaw D engages the tops of the arms 0 and is pushed by'the same into the recess F*, the ends of the jaws sliding in the guideways D held on the chains of the carrier E (see Fig. 9). It will be noticed that by this arrangement the jaws D, D pass into the recess F 4 so as to be completely out of the way of the scraper or knife (1?. On the further downward and forward movement of the jaws D, D the jaw D finally leaves the arms 0 so that the latter return to their normal vertical position owing to counter-weights O on the lower ends of the arms 0.

In order to facilitate the transfer of the jaws D, D from the recess F into the recess F at the time the said recesses are in register with each other use is made of arms I pivoted at their upper ends at I on a plate A attached to or forming part of the main frame A. v The arms P are provided at their lower ends with lugs P the said lower ends extending into the path of the jaws D, I) as the latter are carried forward in the recess F Now when the jaws D, D strike the under side of the arms P the latter receive an upward and forward swinging movement so that the jaws D, D are pushed out of the recess F and into the recess F so as to be out of the path of the scraper or knife Gr during the further forward movement of the jaws in the recess F.

In order to prevent the jaws D, D from accidentally passing out of the recess F during the time the drum F makes a half revolution use is made of a locking device in the form of bolts Q (see Figs. 9 and 10) mounted to slide in suitable bearings Q attached to the inner surface of the drum F. The bolts Q terminate in forks Q adapted to penetrate the material and to engage the jaw D to hold the jaws D, D within the recess F, as shown in Fig. 9. The bolts Q are provided with recesses Q engaged by an arm Qj held on a shaft Q j ournaled in suitable bearings carried by the drum F. 011 the outer ends of the shaft Q} are secured arms Q, Q of which the arm Q is adapted to engage a pin Q fixed on the frame A so that when the drum F rotates and the arm Q} engages the pin Q then a turning motion is given to the shaft Q to cause the arm Q to shoot out the bolts Q, with a view to lock the jaws D, D within the recess F, as plainly indicated in Fig. 9. The other arm Q is adapted to engage a fixed pin Q (see Fig. 1) to turn the shaft Q in a reverse direction with aview to cause the arm Q} to withdraw the bolts Q thus unlocking the jaws D, D in the recess F immediately prior to the jaws engaging the arm P previously mentioned..- A similar locking device is arranged on the drum F for temporarily locking the jaws D, D in the recess F. It is understood'that after the jaws D, D have been pushed intothe recess F by the arm P then the locking bolts Q on the drum F are shot out to lock the jaws D, D in place, and when the jaws reach the delivery side of the drum F opposite the pulley E then the bolts Q are withdrawn to allow the jaws to pass out of the recess F to be carried around thepulley E.

The scrapers G and G are alike in construction and it suffices to describe but one indetail, special reference being had to Figs. 11 and 12, in which the scraper G is illustrated relative to the drum F. The scraper G" is preferably made of steel and is attached to the middle member of a U-shaped frame G having its side members attached to a cross bar G journaled loosely in suitable bearings arranged on the plate A or A The plates A and A are approximately semicircular, and the plate A for the drum F extends at the lower portion thereof while the plate A for the drum F extends at the upper portion thereof. The

side arms of the frame G are engaged at the top and bottom by set screws R, R screwing in lugs A, A forming part of the corresponding plate A or A so as to allow of adjusting the scraper G or G relative to the peripheral surface of the corresponding drum F or F according to the thickness of the material passing between the peripheral I face of the corresponding drum and the cutting edge of the corresponding scraper G or In order to keep each scraper G, G clean use is made of a cleaning bar S extending over the face of the scraper G or G and held at its end on arms S mounted to swing on a transverse rod S held on the corresponding plate A or A the arms S being adapted to be engaged by a projection S securedon the rim of the drum F or F to impart a swing ing motion to the arms S with a view to move the cleaning bar S up and down on the face of the scraper G or G to keep the same clean of extraneous matter.

The operation is as follows: When the machine is running and the carriage C moves from the right to the left then the j aws B,

V B are opened to permit the operator standing at the front end of the machine to pass one end of the'material between the said jaws B, B with the material projecting forwardly beyond the ends of thejaws. When the carriage C reaches the end of its stroke to the left the arms J strike the pins J so that the jaws B and B are moved into closed position to firmly clamp the forward end of the material between the said jaws. The carriage C now travels forward and when it nears the end of its forward stroke it reaches a position immediately in the rear of a draw head D, the jaws D, D of which are opened by the action of the rollers N, N so that the projecting ends of the material pass between the said open jaws D, D and approximately at the same time the jaws B, B are opened by the arms J striking the pins J (see Fig. d). "When this has taken place the forward traveling movement of the carrier causes the springs L L to pass out from between the rollers N, N and consequently the jaws D, D close by the action of the springs L, L The draw head D carrying the material now draws the latter forward and this draw head next registers with the recess F of the drum F, and the jaws D, D of this draw head are now pushed into the recess F by the action of the counterbalanced arms 0 as previously explained, and the jaws D, D are temporarily locked in place in the recess F by the bolts Q actuated by the arms Q striking the fixed pins Q The jaws D, D new travel around with the drum F and in doing so draw the material onto the peripheral face of the drum F and under the scraper or knife G which scrapes or cuts the extraneous matter from the outer face of the material. The jaws D, D are next transferred to the recess F 5 by the action of the arms P and locked temporarily in place in the said recess by the locking bolts Q of the drum F. The jaws new travel with the drum F and in doing so draw the material. onto the peripheral face of the drum and finally under the scraper or knife G which scrapes or cuts the extraneous matter from the other side of the fibers. The jaws D, D finally pass out of the recess F and around the pulley E totravel upward along the top of the machine until the springs L, L pass between the rollers N U to open the jaws D, D and thus release the fibers, which can now be removed from the machine. It is understood that each of the draw heads operates in the manner described in conjunction with the drums F, F and the scrapers G, G to remove the extraneous material from one side of the fibers and. then from the other side thereof.

By the arrangement described, a large amount of material may be cleaned in a comparatively short time, it being understood that it is only necessary for one workman to engage the material with the open jaws B, B of the feed device, and another workman to remove the cleaned material from the machine when the jaws are opened by the action of the rollers N N on the springs L, U. as above explained.

-Having thus described my invention, 1'

fibers around one-half of the other drum with the other side of the fibers exposed to the corresponding scraper to cause the scrapers to clean both sides of the fibers during the successive operations.

2. A fiber cleaning machine, comprising revoluble drums, scrapers extending transversely across the peripheral faces of the drums to remove the extraneous matter from both sides of the fibers passing between the said drum faces and the scrapers, a driven endless carrier having a draw head to which the butt end of the fibers is attached, the draw head drawing the fibers around approximately one-half of one drum with one side of the fibers exposed to the corresponding scraper. and then drawing the fibers around one-half of the other drum with the other side of the fibers exposed to the come sponding scraper to cause the scrapers to clean both sides of the fibers during the successive scraping operations, and a feed device for feeding the butt end of the fibers to the said draw head prior to the latter reaching the first drum.

3. A fiber cleaning machine, comprising revoluble drums, scrapers extending transversely across the peripheral faces of the drums to remove the extraneous matter from both sides of the fibers passing between the said drum faces and the scrapers, a driven endless carrier having a draw head to which the butt end of the fibers is attached, the drawhead drawing the fibers around approximately one-half of one drum with one side of the fibers exposed to the corresponding scraper and then drawing the fibers around one-half of the other drum with the other side of the fibers exposed to the corresponding scraper to cause the scrapers to clean both sides of the fibers during the successive scraping operations, and a releasing device in the path of the return run of the endless carrier and its draw head to open the latter for the release of the fibers.

4. A fiber cleaning machine, comprising revoluble drums an endless carrier to which the fibers are fastened, the said carrier passing the fibers around the drums with one side of the fibers outward at one drum and with the other side of the fibers outward at the other drum, and scrapers extending transversely across the peripheral faces of the drums at points where the fibers pass over the drums to clean both sides of the fibers.

A fiber cleaning machine, comprising revoluble drums having recesses in their peripheral faces, scrapers extending across the said peripheral drum faces and between which and the drums the fibers pass, and an endless driven carrier passing around the lower portion of one drum and over the upper portion of the other drum, the carrier having a draw head in which the fibers are fastened, the draw head being adapted to pass into the said drum recesses.

6. A fiber cleaning machine, comprising revoluble drums having recesses in their peripheral faces, scrapers extending across the said peripheral drum faces and between which and the drums the fibers pass, an end less driven carrier passing around the lower portion of one drum and over the upper portion of the other drum, the carrier having a draw head in which the fibers are fastened, the draw head being adapted to pass into the said drum recesses, and means for temporarily locking the said draw head in position in the corresponding drum recess. 7

7. A fiber cleaning machine, comprising revoluble drums having recesses in their peripheral faces, scrapers extending across the said peripheral drum faces and between which and the drums the fibers pass, an endless driven carrier passing around the lower portion of one drum and over the upper portion of the other drum, the carrier having a draw head in which the fibers are fastened, the draw head being adapted to pass into the said drum recesses, means for temporarily locking the said draw head in position in the corresponding drum recess, means for unlocking the draw head in the recess of one drum, and means for guiding the unlocked draw head into the recess of the next drum. p

8. A fiber cleaning machine, comprising revoluble drums having recesses in their peripheral faces, scrapers extending across the said peripheral drum faces and between which and the drums the fibers pass, an endless driven carrier passing around the lower portion of one drum and over the upper portion of the other drum, the carrier having a draw head in which the fibers are fastened, the draw head being adapted to pass into the said drum recesses, and means for guiding the draw head into the recess of the first drum.

i 9. A fiber cleaning machine, comprising revoluble drums having recesses in. their peripheral faces, scrapers extending across the said peripheral drum faces and between .whlch and the drums the fibers pass, an endless driven carrier passing around the lower portion of one drum and over the upper portion of the other drum, the carrier having a draw head in which the fibers are fastened, the draw head being adapted to pass into the said drum recesses, means for guiding the draw head into the recess of the first drum, and means for guiding the draw head from the recess of the first drum into the recess of the second drum.

10. A fiber cleaning machine, comprising revoluble drums having recesses in their peripheral faces, scrapers extending across the'said peripheral drum faces and between which and the drums the fibers pass, an endless driven carrier passing around the lower portion of one drum and over the upper portion of the other drum, the carrier having draw head in which the fibers are fastened, the draw head being adapted to pass into the said drumrecesses,means for guiding the draw head into the recess of the first drum, means for guiding the draw head from the recess of the first drum into the recess of the second drum, and a guide wheel for the endless carrier and located adjacent the delivery end of the last drum to draw the draw head out of the recess of the second drum.

11. A fiber cleaning machine, comprising revoluble drums arranged one alongside the other and each having in its peripheral face a recess, an endless driven carrierhaving a plurality of draw heads, the said carrier passing around the lower portion of one drum and over the upper portion of the other drum to engage the draw heads successively with the recesses in the said drums, a guiding means for guiding a draw head 1 into the recess of the first drum, a guiding means for guiding the drawhead from the recess of the first drum into the recess of the seconddrum, and a guiding means for the saidcarrier and arranged adjacent the delivery side of the said second drum to disengage the carrier from the recess of the second drum and removing it from the same. 7

j 12. A fibercleaning machine, comprising revoluble drums arranged one alongside the other and each having in its peripheral face arecess, an endless driven carrier having a plurality of draw heads, the said carrier passing around the lower portion of one drum and over the upper portion of the other drum to'engage the draw heads successively with the recesses in the said drums, a guiding means for guiding a draw head into the recess of the first drum, a guiding means for guiding the drawhead from the recess ofthe first drum into the recess of thesecond drum, a guidingmeans for the said carrier and arranged adjacent the dclivery side of the said second drum to disengage the carrier from the recess of the second drum and removing it from the same, locking means on each drum for temporarily locking the draw head in position in the corresponding drum recess, means for actuating the said locking device after the draw head has passed into the recess of a drum, and means for actuating the locking device to unlock the draw head immediately prior to the draw head reaching the deliverv side of its drum.

1?). A fiber cleaning machine, comprising revoluble drums, an endless driven carrier adapted to pass around the lower portion of one drum and over the upper portion of the next drum, the carrier having draw heads for drawing the fibers along, each drawhead having a pair of self-closing aws for clamping the end. of the fibers between them, a jaw-opening device for opening the jaws of the drawheads, and a feed device iaving jaws for clamping and releasing the fibers and operating in unison with the said drums and carrier to deliver the fibers be tween the said open jaws of the d awheads.

14. A fiber cleaning machine, comprising revoluble drums, an endless driven carrier adapted to pass around the lower portion of one drum and over the upper portion of the next drum, the carrier having draw heads for drawing the fibers along, each draw head having a pair of self-closing jaws for clamping the end of the fibers between them, a jan opening device for opening the jaws of the drawheads, a reciprocating feed carriage having jaws for clamping one end of the fibers, means for reciprocating the said carriage from one of the said drums to move the carriage into delivery position at the time a draw head reaches the said jaw opening device, and means for closing the said carriage jaws at the time the carriage reaches the end of its return stroke.

15. A fiber cleaning machine, provided with a pair of driven endless chains, a draw head connecting the chains with each other, the draw head having a pair of jaws one above the other for clamping the fibers between them, guides on the chains for the ends of the jaws to slide in up and down. top and bottom springs extending above and below the said'jaws. the upper spring being connected with. the lower jaw and the lower spring being connected with the upper jaw, and means engaging the said springs to force the same toward each other to open the jaws.

16. A fiber cleaning machine provided with a pair of driven endless chains, vertical guides attached to the said chains and located opposite each other, jaws mounted to slide up and down in the said guides and located one above the other to clamp the fibers between them, elliptical springs eX- tending lengthwise of the chains and connected with each other at their ends, the said jaws extending between the springs and the upper spring being connected with the lower jaw and the lower spring being connected with the upper aw to normally hold the jaws closed, and means in the path of the said springs to force the same toward each other to open the jaws.

17. 'A fiber cleaning machine provided with an endless driven carrier, a pair of normally closed carrier jaws mounted on the said carrier and adapted to clamp the fibers between them, jaw opening means for opening the said jaws, a reciprocating feed carriage adjacent the said jaw opening means, actuating means for reciprocating the carriage at a higher speed than that of the said carrier, feed jaws mounted on the said carriage, means for opening and closing the feed aws during the outward movement of the carriage to receive the fibers and to clamp the same, and means for opening the feed jaws near the end of the inward movement of the carriage, the said feed jaws being adapted to deliver the fibers to the said carrier jaws at the time the latter are opened by the said j aw-opening means.

18. A fiber cleaning machine provided with an endless driven carrier, a pair of normally closed carrier jaws mounted on the said carrier and adapted to clamp the fibers between them, jaw-opening means for opening the said jaws, a reciprocating feed carriage adjacent the said jaw-opening means, actuating means for reciprocating the carriage at a higher speed than that of the said carrier, feed jaws mounted on the said carriage and adapted to deliver the fibers to the said carrier jaws at the time the latter are opened by the said jaw-opening means, means for automatically opening the said feed jaws at the time the carriage nears an outward position to permit the operator to insert the fibers between the said feed jaws, means for automatically closing the said feed jaws on the forward movement of the carriage, and means for opening the said feed jaws at the time the carriage nears the end of its inward stroke and is close to the said open carrier jaws.

19. A fiber cleaning machine provided with a reciprocating feed carriage, a pair of jaws mounted on the said carriage and adapted to clamp the fiber between them, the

jaws having extension arms provided with angular slots, a lever pivoted on the said carriage and provided with pins engaging the said slots, and fixed jaws in the path of the said lever for imparting a swinging motion to the said lever to close and open the said jaws.

20. A fiber cleaning machine provided with a revoluble drum around which passes the fiber, a scraper extending across the peripheral face of the drum and having its so aping edge in close proximity to the said peripheral face, arms (-arryin g the said scraper and mounted pivota-lly for adjustment, means engaging the scraper arms to adjust the scraper relative to the peripheral surface of the drum, a cleaning bar mounted to move up and down on the face of the said scraper, and means on the drum for engaging and moving the said cleaning bar.

21. A fiber cleaning. machine provided with a revoluble drum around which passes the fiber, a scraper extending across the peripheral face of the drum and having its scraping edge in close proximity to the said peripheral face, arms carrying the said scraper and mounted pivotally wfor adjustment, a cleaning bar mounted to more up and down on the face of the said scraper, the said bar having arms mounted to swing, and a cam lug on the said drum and adapted to engage the said cleaning bar arms to impart a swinging motion to the same.

22. A fiber cleaning machine provided with a revoluble drum having a recess in its peripheral face, traveling carrier chains having a draw head between them, the draw head being adapted to pass into the said recess, and locking means for locking the draw head temporarily in position in the said recess.

A fiber cleaning machine provided with a revoluble drum having a recess in its peripheral face, traveling carrier chains having a draw head between them, the draw head being adapted to pass into the said recess. locking means for locking the draw head temporarily in position in the said recess, and means for automatically actuating the said locking means for the latter to lock the said draw head in place on entering the recess and to unlock the draw head immediately prior to passing out of the recess.

24. A fiber cleaning machine provided with a revoluble drum having a recess in its peripheral face, an endless traveling carrier adapted to pass around a portion of said drum and having a draw head adapted to pass into the said recess, the draw head having means for engaging one end of the fibers to draw the latter around a portion of the peripheral face of the drum and a swinging guide engaged by the draw head to guide the latter into the said recess.

25. A fiber cleaning machine provided with adrum having a recess in its peripheral face, sprocket wheels on the said drum, sprocket chains passing over the said sprocket wheels, a draw head attached to and held between the said sprocket chains and adapted to pass into the said recess, means for guiding the drawhead into the said recess; and means for temporarily'locking the draw head in position in said recess.

26. A fiber cleaning machine provided with a revoluhle drum having a recess in its peripheral face, a carrier having a draw head adapted to pass into the said recess,

the draw head having means for engaging one end of the fibers to draw the latter around a portion of the peripheral face of the drum, a carrier guide to one side or" the drum for guiding the carrier to the drum, and a swlnging arm at the entrance side of the drum and adapted to be engaged by the Y said draw head to guide the 'latter into the said recess.

27. A fiber cleaning machine provided with a revoluble drum having a recess in its peripheral face a carrier having a draw head adapted to. pass into the said recess,

the draw head having means for engaging to push the latter out of the said recess.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thls speclfication 1n the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER R. NELSON.

Witnesses:

RICHARD BARTON, P. E. SAARENAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

